Inside the Declaration of Independence

Welcome to the History Extra podcast. We've got the second episode for you now of our Sunday series on the American Revolution, and today Professor Adam Smith and Eleanor Evans discuss why the United States so fervently sought independence and how the contents of the Declaration of Independence were agreed upon. In 1776, a group of colonies in North America made a bold and uncertain leap, declaring independence from one of the most powerful empires in the world. What drove that decision in 1776? What did the Declaration actually say, and who did it leave out?

And how do you declare a nation into existence? Is that how it works? Welcome back to the History Extra podcast, to episode two of our series on the American Revolutionary War, the War of Independence. I'm Eleanor Evans and I'm joined by historian and broadcaster Professor Adam Smith. Adam, welcome back.

Thank you. Nice to be here. So last episode, we travelled as far as the battles of Lexington and Concord. in 1775. The skirmishes nevertheless included the shot heard around the world.

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